After just over a year on the job, Boca Raton City Manager Mark Sohaney has resigned from his post.
An official announcement was made by the City of Boca Raton Friday afternoon that Sohaney will be pursuing another opportunity that will allow him to return to serving the military community.
Sohaney was selected after a nationwide search to replace George Brown, who was serving in an interim role when City Manager Leif Ahnell stepped down after 24 years.
Formerly the CEO of Pearl Harbor Joint Base-Hickam in Hawaii, Sohaney’s hiring was the first time in decades that the City of Boca Raton had looked outside its staff to hire a city manager. Of the five finalists, four of the five then-city councilmembers had ranked him their top choice. Councilmember Andy Thomson, now mayor, preferred Deputy City Manager James Zervis. In addition to Zervis, Deputy City Manager Jorge Camejo was a finalist.
Sohaney shook things up when he fired Police Chief Michele Miuccio and two deputy city managers, Camejo and Chrissy Gibson in March. During his tenure, Sohaney has led initiatives to service the city’s homeless population, crack down on aggressive drivers, hire a new police chief, coordinate community involvement in the development of the city’s new police station and government campus, and more.
“Serving as City Manager of Boca Raton has been an honor, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside an exceptional team of dedicated public servants,” said Sohaney in a press statement. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together and have tremendous confidence in the people who serve this community every day. While this was not an easy decision, the opportunity to return to a mission that has been central to my professional life is especially meaningful to me. I am grateful to the Mayor, City Council, employees, and residents for the opportunity to serve Boca Raton, and I remain fully committed to ensuring a smooth transition.”
In the same press statement, Mayor Thomson voiced his well wishes for Sohaney’s next role.
“Mark cares deeply about the people who work for this City and the community we serve,” said Thomson. “He has brought a strong sense of service to his role as City Manager. We appreciate his leadership and the work he has done alongside our employees, and we wish him and his family the very best as he returns to serving the military community.”
Sohaney will be assisting during the transition phase and the city council will appoint an interim city manager as they search for a permanent replacement.
